On this page:

The Beginning
Our Country
Selection Criteria
Selection Method
Breeding Ewes
Main Sires Used
Show Results
Selling Avenues
Our Poll Merino Stud

THE BEGINNING:

White River Merino Stud was founded on pure Collinsville blood in 1951. Only the very best Collinsville genetics have been introduced with several world record priced rams being purchased from the parent stud, coupled with select infusions from the most suitable leading Australian sires, enabling White River to cement a type for which it is renowned.

We have now succeeded in breeding a genuine White River blood type of animal.

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OUR COUNTRY:

The White River Stud has centralised and is now run on 13,000ha on Western Upper Eyre Peninsula on properties at Minnipa, Poochera and Cungena.  Our country is 300mm rainfall, broadacre agricultural limestone country.
>>click here to view relocation brochure

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SELECTION CRITERIA:

Our aim is to produce extra large framed correct structured animals with good fleshing qualities, carrying long stapled soft handling nourished wools on plain bodies. We have refrained from chasing trends and opted to produce our own unique superior quality Dual Purpose Merino by following these aims. Our clip average on fleece wools is 20 microns with a 72.5 yield. Our mature ewes cut 8-9 kg, Micron 20.0-21.5. Hoggets cut 7-8kg and micron 18.5 – 20 depending on the season. Bodyweights of 15 month old rams are from around 100 – 140 kgs and top breeding ewes around 100kgs.

At White River we are aiming towards bigger, plainer, freer types of animals to cater for modern day demands.

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SELECTION METHOD:

Visual assessment of our animals remains paramount. We certainly use objective measurements to help us fine tune our wool selections, but we very much believe its some of the characteristics you can’t measure that are so important in Stud Merino Sheep breeding. Sheep have to survive in a paddock NOT on a whiteboard. We constantly body weigh our rams and place a lot of emphasis on growth rate. Consequently all rams offered for sale have current objective wool test results and eye muscle depth and body weight figures.

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BREEDING EWES:

Approximately 1850 ewes are mated each year.

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MAIN SIRES USED:

• Merinos – White River, Collinsville and Wanganella.
  Wallaloo Park 112 semen was introduced in 2018.

• Poll Merinos - White River, Moorundie, Collinsville, Old Ashrose, Nyowee, Boonoke and Morrundie Park.
  Glenlea Park 180173 semen was introduced in 2019.

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SHOW RESULTS:

While not chasing show ribbons the Stud is honoured to win them when they come along.

The studs recent success is quite stunning.

• 2018 Eyre Peninsula Field Day
  White River won the 2018 Elders Eyre Peninsula Champion Hogget Ram of The Year Award at the recent EP Stud Merino Breeders Pre Sale Merino and Poll Merino Expo at Wudinna with Poll ram WR 881 sired by Moorundie NE8 and from Kulkami family ewe - Ridgway stud.
  
  
  
  Pictured from Left - Michael and Graham Curtis from Curtis' - Sponsor of the Award, Judge - Justin Boughen of Kamora Netley Park stud and Wes Daniell of White River Stud holding WR 881, the 2018 Elders EP Champion Hogget Ram of The Year.
  
  The Daniell family were placed 1st and 3rd in the Elders EP Champion Hogget Ram of the Year.
  
  
  
  Pictured in the photo are from Left: John Daniell - White River, Ruvae Curtis, Claire Daniell - White River, Freddie Daniell - White River, Sadie Curtis and Wes Daniell - White River.
  
  
• 2018 Hay Merino Sheep Show
  White River won the coveted Champion Hogget Merino Ewe award - a cash prize of $1500.
  The embryo transfer bred ewe was sired by WR 733, a son of Collinsville Premier, purchased for $34,000 in 2013.
  Her Mother was from the Nyowee 134 family.
  White River had an outstanding day at Hay collecting many ribbons with their team of 4 rams and 2 ewes and indeed stood 2nd and 4th in the line up 45 entries from 3 states in the Riverina Wool Australian Riverina Champion Hogget ram class, an effort we are really proud of.
  The ram placed 2nd WR 881 was subsequently awarded the Elders EP Hogget Ram of the Year a month later.
  
  
  
  Pictured with the 2018 Champion Hogget Merino Ewe is Wes Daniell White River co principal.
  
  
• 2017 Hay Merino Sheep Show
  The Daniell Family had a major triumph at the 2017 Hay Sheep Show, repeating their 2016 outstanding success.
  >> Click here for more details
  
  
  
  

  John & Wes Daniell are pictured with White River 546 after being sashed as the 2017 Riverina Wool Australian Champion Hogget Ram. Also pictured is Mark Bazeley representing the major sponsors, Riverina Wool, Echuca.

  Above photo courtesy of Stephen Burns, Fairfax Media, NSW.
  
  
  
  Above photo courtesy of Stephen Burns, Fairfax Media, NSW
  
  
• 2016 Royal Adelaide Show
  White River Stud made a triumphant return to the Royal Adelaide Show with a heavy cutting medium wool ram, winning it’s way through the March shorn classes.
  
  >> Click here for more details
  
  
  
  
  Glorious Return: Michelle Cousins, Burra, sashes the champion March-Shorn Merino ram from the White River stud Poochera.  Also pictured are Claire, Wes and John Daniell and Ali Brands (second from right).
  
  Above picture courtesy of Catherine Miller Stock, Stock Journal.
  
  
  
  Above picture courtesy of Ian Turner, Superior Selections.
  
  
• 2016 Hay Merino Sheep Show
  White River 50049, "Venus", was the winner of the 2016 "Riverina Wool Australian Champion Hogget Merion Ram" award.
  
  

• 2010 Royal Adelaide Show
  White River “Kaldoonera” won the Supreme Champion Merino or Poll Merino Ram or Ewe award - The first time that an autumn shorn grand champion had won that award.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Hay Merino Sheep Show
  2010 - (June) Won the 'Riverina Wool Australian Champion Hogget Merino Ram' award
  The dual purpose event - pen of 3 ram weaners.
  
  
  
  
• Eyre Peninsula Field Day:
  1998 - EP Ram of the Year & EP Hogget Ram of the Year
  1999 - EP Ram of the Year & EP Hogget Ram of the Year
  (recess until 2004)
  2004 - EP Ram of the Year & Elders Champion Pen of Three young rams.
  2005 - EP Ram of the Year & Elders Champion Pen of Three Young Rams
  2006 - EP Ram of the Year & Elders Champion Pen of Three Young Rams.
  2007 - Elders EP Hogget Ram of the Year & Farmers Choice Pen of Three Young Rams
  2008 - Elders EP Hogget Ram of The Year & Farmers Choice Pen of Three Young Rams
  2009 - Elders EP Hogget Ram of The Year & The Farmers Choice Pen Of Three Young Rams
  2010 - Elders Champion Hogget Ram of The Year
  2011 - Elders Champion Hogget Ram of The Year
  2012 Elders Champion Hogget Ram of The Year - click here for overview & photos
  2013 Elders EP Champion Hogget Ram of The year - click here for overview & photos
  2014 Elders EP Champion Hogget Ram of The Year - click here for overview and photo.
  2018 Elders EP Champion Hogget Ram of The Year - click here for photos and details
  
  
• SA Stud Merino Field Days - Burra: (March)
  1991 -WR Apollo 84 -SA Ram of the Year
  1999 - WR Regent 11 - SA Ram of the Year
  2005 - Hayman 63 - SA Ram of the Year
  2006 - Commonwealth 34 - SA Ram of the Year

  >> Field Day Report - Burra 2006

• Also in 2006 - SA Ram of the Year and Ram and Ewe Pair of the Year
  2006 - White River - Winner - Group of Five, 3 Merino Rams & 2 Ewes to represent SA at Katanning Sheep Show July 2006. And in 1999 -
  White Rivers Regent 11 won Australian Supreme
  Merino Ram award, enough said

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SELLING AVENUES:

White River Ram Sales

2020 Annual On Property Sale Thursday August 6th
Inspection Day – Friday July 31st
From October 2020 – Springtime – rams for private selection

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OUR POLL MERINO STUD:

Our Poll Merino Stud was established in November 2006 with the transfer of 200 White River ewes and the purchase of semen from Kamora Park, Leahcim and Willemenup .  In May 2007 White River purchased the complete Almaree Poll Merino stud breeding ewe base (50 years of poll only breeding) and RA570 was purchased from Ridgway Advance stud for $7,000 in September 2007.  The Poll Stud was registered in December 2007.

The breeding aims in the Poll Merino stud are along the same principles as our Merino Stud.

Leachim 609 was purchased for a Leachim On Property record at their annual 2009 September sale for $24,500 in partnership with “Allala” stud Kapinnie. Highest priced poll merino ram sold in SA in 2009.
Tests – Micron 18.3 SD 3.1 CV 17.0 CF 99.6
- Semen $50 per dose.

Nyowee L134 purchased for $15,000 at 2011 Adelaide Ram Sale
Tests – Micron 19.2 SD 2.7 CV 13.7 CF 99.4

Ridgway “Kulkami” purchased for $32,000 at 2011 Classings Classics Sale
Tests – Micron 19.9 SD 2.8 CV 14.9 CF 99.9

At 2013 Royal Adelaide Show Ram Sale top priced Collinsville 120102 Poll ram was purchased for $34,000.
Tests – Micron 20.0, SD 2.6, CV 13.0 and CF pf 99.7.
>> Click Here To See the Report and Photo.

At 2015 Royal Adelaide Show Ram Sale, White River paid $27,00 and $18,000 for 2 poll merino rams from Old Ashrose Stud, Hallet.
>> Click Here to See Photo and Details

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